Panera Bread, which is based out of St. Louis, has over 2,000 bakery-cafes in the U.S. and Canada, promoting itself to be the restaurant with no artificial flavors, preservatives, colors or sweeteners.

Dover resident Tamra Price Callaway said it would nice to have healthier options and not to drive north to have lunch. She said she hopes the restaurant will survive Dover's temperamental nature.

Panera CEO and Chairman Ron Shaich said he takes it personally to serve healthy food.

The company is already operating six locations in Delaware, but Dover will be its first for Kent County.